The effect of increased sodium in the drinking water on right ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular failure and ascites in broiler chickens.

One hundred commercial male broiler chickens were grown to 27 days in four floor pens on a commercial diet containing 0.14% sodium (Na+). From day 6 each pen received different levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) in the drinking water; 0.0%, 0.15% (0.06% Na+), 0.3% (0.12% Na+) and 0.6% (0.24% Na+). Eight chicks from each group were killed at 13, 20 and 27 days and examined for right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and right ventricular failure (RVF). By day 27 as little as 0.06% added Na+ caused two cases of RVH and one case of RVF with ascites, typical of the ascites caused by RVF in commercial broilers. RVH, RVF and ascites developed earlier in broilers on higher levels of Na+.